US-12623728-B2 - Twist lock accessory rack system

US12623728B2US 12623728 B2US12623728 B2US 12623728B2US-12623728-B2

Abstract

An accessory rack system comprising a frame rail adapted to couple to a side wall of a cargo area and at least one post engageable with the frame rail. The frame rail comprises one or more frame rail locking features and a tonneau cover support portion adapted for supporting a tonneau cover over the cargo area. The at least one post comprises one or more post locking features extending from an end of the at least one post. One of the post locking features rotates into locking engagement with one of the frame rail locking features so that the at least one post is prevented from disengaging from the frame rail and/or prevented from longitudinal translation along the frame rail.

Inventors

Mark Alan Hickey
Jerome FACCHINELLO
Dan Delaney

Assignees

EXTANG CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221219

Claims (16)

1 . An accessory rack system comprising: a frame rail adapted to couple to a side wall of a cargo area, the frame rail comprising: one or more frame rail locking features, and a tonneau cover support portion adapted for supporting a tonneau cover over the cargo area; at least one post engageable with the frame rails, the at least one post comprising one or more post locking feature extending from an end of the at least one post; and wherein one of the post locking features is inserted into one of the frame rail locking features in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the frame rail and, with rotation of the at least one post, rotates into locking engagement with the one of the frame rail locking features so that the at least one post is prevented from disengaging from the frame rail and/or prevented from longitudinal translation along the frame rail, and wherein the one or more frame rail locking features include a track extending at least partially the length of each of the frame rail and the one or more post locking features include a wedge extending from an end of the at least one post; and wherein the track accepts the wedge.
2 . The accessory rack system according to claim 1 , wherein the track is accessible through an opening defined between two opposing flanges; and wherein the width of the track is greater than the width of the opening.
3 . The accessory rack system according to claim 2 , wherein the width of the wedge is generally equal to or less than the width of the opening; wherein the wedge is locatable within the track through the opening by aligning the width of the wedge with the width of the opening; and wherein the length of the wedge is generally equal to the width of the track.
4 . The accessory rack system according to claim 3 , wherein the wedge comprises two opposing rounded corners and two opposing squared corners; wherein by twisting the wedge the two opposing rounded corners slide against opposing surfaces of the track and the two opposing squared corners preclude further rotation of the wedge.
5 . The accessory rack system according to claim 4 , wherein at least one edge of the wedge is beveled so that twisting the wedge into locking engagement with the track causes a surface of the track to translate along the at least one beveled edge and frictionally engage with the wedge.
6 . The accessory rack system according to claim 5 , wherein the wedge is translatable along the length of the track when not in a locked engagement with the track.
7 . An accessory rack system comprising: a frame rail adapted to couple to a side wall of a cargo area, the frame rail comprising: one or more frame rail locking features, and a tonneau cover support portion adapted for supporting a tonneau cover over the cargo area; at least one post engageable with the frame rails, the at least one post comprising one or more post locking feature extending from an end of the at least one post; and wherein one of the post locking features rotates into locking engagement with one of the frame rail locking features so that the at least one post is prevented from disengaging from the frame rail and/or prevented from longitudinal translation along the frame rail; wherein the frame rail comprises a first frame rail locking feature and one or more second frame rail locking features; and the at least one post comprises a first post locking feature and a second post locking feature.
8 . The accessory rack system according to claim 7 , wherein the first frame rail locking feature includes a track and the one or more second frame rail locking features include one or more holes disposed at one or more locations along the length of the frame rail; and wherein the first post locking feature includes a wedge that is engageable with the track, and the second post locking feature includes a bracket having a hole that is coaxially alignable with the holes of the one or more second frame rail locking features.
9 . The accessory rack system according to claim 8 , wherein twisting of the at least one post relative to the frame rail causes the hole of the bracket to align coaxially with the holes of the one or more second frame rail locking features.
10 . The accessory rack system according to claim 9 , wherein the accessory rack system comprises a locking member; wherein the locking member comprises a pin and a handle extending from an end of the pin; wherein the pin extends through the hole of the bracket and into the hole of the one or more second frame rail locking features; and wherein the handle assists a user twist the pin.
11 . The accessory rack system according to claim 10 , wherein the pin of the locking member is insertable into the second post locking feature and the one or more second frame rail locking features upon the coaxial alignment of the hole of the bracket with the holes of the one or more second frame rail locking features; and wherein the locking member prevents rotation of the wedge within the track.
12 . The accessory rack system according to claim 11 , wherein the one or more holes of the one or more second frame rail locking features comprise one or more groove guides extending from an inner surface of the one or more holes and the pin comprises one or more grooves formed into the pin; and wherein the one or more grooves are adapted to accept the one or more groove guides.
13 . The accessory rack system according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more grooves extend in a first direction along a length of the pin and then in a second direction along a circumference of the pin such that translating the one or more groove guides within the one or more grooves in the second direction prevents axial displacement of the at least one post from the frame rails.
14 . The accessory rack system according to claim 13 , wherein the second direction is oriented generally 90° to the first direction.
15 . The accessory rack system according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the at least one post with the frame rail does not interfere with the supporting of a tonneau cover by the frame rail or a folding operation of the tonneau cover.
16 . The accessory rack system of according to claim 1 , further comprising a cross bar connected to and extending from the at least one post.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/299,067, filed on Jan. 13, 2022, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. FIELD The present teachings generally relate to an accessory rack system with posts that twist into locking engagement with frame rails. BACKGROUND Some frame rails for supporting accessory racks, sometimes referred to as “ladder racks”, are dedicated only to the use of the accessory rack. These frame rails typically install on cargo area side walls and occupy space required for tonneau cover supporting frame rails. Thus, vehicle owners have to choose between the accessory rack and the tonneau cover. Tonneau covers are typically supported by frame rails installed on the walls of a cargo area. Some frame rails include tracks for mounting accessories such as tie-down cleats. Typically, these accessories are slid into the channel and a separate fastener is used to secure the position of the accessories in the channel. Sometimes this fastener is a screw with a hand or thumb wheel. These types of fasteners may be difficult for some users to manipulate. Moreover, installing screw-type fasteners can be time consuming. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system with posts that secure to frame rails easily relative to prior systems. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system that twists to secure posts to frame rails. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system with posts that twist 180° or less or even more preferably 90° or less to secure the posts to frame rails. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system that precludes the need for separate fasteners. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system with fasteners integrated into posts and/or frame rails. It would be desirable to provide an accessory rack system with fasteners that prevent rotation of posts relative to frame rails where such rotation would disengage the posts from the frame rails. It would be desirable to provide a system that supports both an accessory rack and a tonneau cover. It would be desirable to provide a system that allows for the manipulation of a tonneau cover while the accessory rack is installed on the vehicle. It would be desirable to provide a system that allows for the manipulation of a tonneau cover without manipulating an accessory rack or accessories stored on the rack. SUMMARY The present disclosure relates to an accessory rack system, which may address at least some of the needs identified above. The accessory rack system may comprise a frame rail. The frame rail may be adapted to couple to a side wall of a cargo area. The frame rail may comprise one or more frame rail locking features. The frame rail may comprise a tonneau cover support portion. The tonneau cover support portion may be adapted for supporting a tonneau cover over a cargo area. The accessory rack system may comprise at least one post. The at least one post may be engageable with the frame rail. The at least one post may comprise one or more post locking features. The one or more post locking features may extend from an end of the at least one post. One of the post locking features may rotate into locking engagement with one of the frame rail locking features so that the at least one post is prevented from disengaging from the frame rail and/or prevented from longitudinal translation along the frame rail. The one or more frame rail locking features may include a track extending at least partially the length of each of the frame rail. The one or more post locking features may include a wedge extending from an end of the at least one post. The track may accept the wedge. The track may be accessible through an opening defined between two opposing flanges. The width of the track may be greater than the width of the opening. The width of the wedge may be generally equal to or less than the width of the opening. The wedge may be locatable within the track through the opening by aligning the width of the wedge with the width of the opening. The length of the wedge may be generally equal to the width of the track. The wedge may comprise two opposing rounded corners and two opposing squared corners. By twisting the wedge, the two opposing rounded corners may slide against opposing surfaces of the track and the two opposing squared corners may preclude further rotation of the wedge. At least one edge of the wedge may be beveled so that twisting the wedge into locking engagement with the track causes a surface of the track to translate along the at least one beveled edge and frictionally engage with the wedge. The wedge may be translatable along the length of the track when not in a locked engagement with the track. The one or more frame rail locking features may include one or more holes disposed at one or more locations along the length of the frame rails. The one or more post locking features may in